A/N: Sorry this is so late. I actually did finish this on Sunday, but then I was like, why not just update with the rest of the stuff, so here we are. Hopefully this week's update will be more timely. Sorry again, thanks for the reviews and everything. :)
"I don't trust either of you with wedding dresses."
Summer gasped. "Oh come on, I have great taste in fashion."
"You wore so much fringe," AJ shook her head, "so, so much fringe."
"Fringe is sexy when you move, and I wouldn't suggest fringe on your wedding dress."
"I have great taste in clothes," Layla said. "I bet I could find you the perfect wedding dress, we both could."
"Guys, I don't even know how we got on this subject, we're supposed to be discussing Paige and what she thinks about me. You guys are supposed to kind of talk to her and see what's up since she's the enemy. I refuse to use the term frenemy, I'm not in Clueless."
"But that's so boring," Layla said, "weddings are much nicer to talk about, and girl, you have not started on anything."
"Actually, yes, I have, we have, Dolph and I. In a couple weeks, we're going to go look at the location we want for the wedding, so see, that's progress."
"Ooh, a place," Summer rolled her eyes. "That's nothing. You don't have any of the good stuff yet, and you don't even have an idea for a dress, what did you picture when you were little?"
"I never pictured myself getting married. I wasn't that type of girl who thought about that kind of stuff, it just wasn't me," she shrugged helplessly.
"Oh, I know I always wanted something really big, like Princess Diana," Layla said. "I remember seeing a picture of her dress and thinking that I wanted a train even longer than that."
"Oh my God, that would have been killer, wasn't her dress off the shoulder, what about off the shoulder for you, AJ?" Summer said, nodding her head eagerly.
"I don't even know if I want traditional, I might just want like a short dress, like, you know, not very formal."
"It could still be off the shoulder," Summer reasoned.
"You looked really pretty in that dress with Daniel," Layla reminded her, "so you could pull off something a little more formal. But it's really up to you, do you see yourself in a long dress."
"I'm not sure."
"You don't sound very prepared for this wedding," Summer said, "what's with that, if you don't mind me asking?"
"It's just…we don't want anything totally crazy, and we want it to be small, but neither one of us has been married before. The thing with Daniel, it was such a whirlwind, it was like, one second we were nothing then I was going to marry him, and we picked out everything so quickly that it didn't even feel real then Vince was coming to me asking if I wanted to be the GM."
"I'm sure it'll be beautiful."
"I just hope I don't freak out," AJ laughed. "I mean, I did run out on one wedding—"
"With good reason," Layla said. "Daniel was a dweeb."
"That's true," AJ laughed.
"We'll help you look for a dress, don't worry."
"Thanks," AJ laughed. She was still glad she had these two to talk with at the shows. It meant she didn't have to cling so hard to Dolph when she was here for want of friendly faces. It was time to get back to the person she was before even Daniel, the one who had friends and hung out with people. She just needed to shed this mean girl image she had. If Dolph could do it, so could she.
"Okay, so we're going to talk to Paige, and we'll report back to you."
AJ waited, knowing that Summer and Layla were going to try and conspire with Paige against AJ for their match later on SmackDown. AJ's plan was to try and get Paige to go into cahoots with Summer and Layla thus proving that Paige was just using AJ, and she was waiting for the right moment to pounce. She didn't trust the British woman, and she wanted to know what was going on. Nobody could be that happy over losing their title. When she lost the title, she was nearly hysterical.
When Summer and Layla came back, however, Paige didn't seem to take the bait. They said that she told them she didn't want to betray AJ like that, and AJ was pissed because she knew Paige was up to something, but she'd not given her enough credit it seemed. When they had their tag match, Paige put on the same show, pretending they were friends. AJ played along, but at some point, something had to give.
Paige played the same act that Sunday as well, acting like losing didn't bother her. It was a good match, and AJ actually felt challenged for once. Paige was a good wrestler (you had to be to beat AJ), but she wasn't quite there yet, but she could be soon. Still, what was with her? Why was she so complacent? AJ still didn't trust her, not at all.
"I don't get her," AJ said, pacing her locker room while Dolph taped up his wrists for his match later. "I don't understand her at all."
"What don't you understand about her?" Dolph asked, not really paying attention but knowing his fiancée was pretty irate.
"I don't get how you lose out on the title and don't get angry," AJ plopped down next to him. She didn't look at him, instead staring at the floor like there was a puzzle in front of her that she was trying to work out.
"Maybe she's just not that type of person. Maybe she's just the type of person that takes losing well, goes back to the gym, works out more, and tries harder next time," he reasoned.
"I think she's up to something."
"Maybe she's not up to anything."
"Do you honestly believe she's not up to anything?' This time she turned to him, studying his profile. She was so used to it now, so used to his every facial expression. She'd never been able to read anyone like she could read Dolph. In some ways, it was such a comfort to have someone she knew so well, to have that level of intimacy where words weren't necessary. It was also a little scary that he could probably read her just as well.
"Maybe she's not up to something," he repeated himself, giving her a cheesy grin.
"Yeah, that's all I need to know," AJ said with a laugh, "but I don't know how to get it out of her. I just don't know. Are you ready for your match though? It's coming up pretty soon, and I like your chances, baby."
"I like them too. I know it'll be difficult, but hey, when isn't something I have to do pretty difficult? If I can just keep on my toes, be aware, maybe I've got a real shot at this. It would feel good to actually hold a title again, even if it's not the one I necessarily want. But it's a start."
"It is, and you know what, the IC title needs someone like you to hold it. You need to bring it back to being the #2 guy in the company status. That's what you should be," AJ rubbed his bare leg. "I know you're going to be great, and what an amazing birthday present it'll be."
"What are you getting me for my birthday?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows. "Is it something that I'll enjoy? I mean, last year, I got to lick cake off you, how are you going to top that this year?"
"Who said I'm going to top it? I was just going to take you out to dinner or something," she shrugged, but he pulled her into his lap. She giggled and kissed him lightly. "I'm not really sure. I didn't know if you wanted it to be a big thing or a little thing, but whatever you want is what I want to do for you."
"I don't really care," he shrugged, "I mean, just being with you is good enough for me."
"Don't say things like that, I know you like to go out and party and stuff like that, and that's what you did before me, so if you want to go out and have fun, we can do that. I know we'll be in LA, so you can take me to places you like."
"Babe, I'm fine just being with you, really, I swear. Going out to dinner sounds fine," he kissed her to silence her. She wasn't appeased though. "I'm going to go warm up a little before my match, you going to be at the gorilla to watch it?"
"Yeah," she told him, but she was distracted. She really did want to make it a good birthday for him. She knew it wasn't their first birthday of his together, but she still wanted to do something special. Maybe she could take him to a comedy club or something. There had to be some club open for next week. They'd probably have to do something on Saturday since they had to travel for work on Sunday.
She stopped thinking about it for a while so she could watch his match. She stood backstage, hoping that when this night was over, they would both be champions. She wanted to get back to that place with him. She wanted to be a power couple, people that were feared and revered. The IC title, while not the WWE World Heavyweight title, was still prestigious in its own right, and she wanted him to feel good about himself again.
It wasn't that Dolph ever necessarily felt bad about himself. It was more that he always got down about things when they didn't go his way. It was mostly due to the fact that he always seemed to come so close to getting it all. Like last month with the Money in the Bank contract, the briefcase was right there in front of him, he was touching it, it was nearly his then it was taken away. Or last year when he was the World Champion, but a kick to the head derailed everything. He was always on the cusp, and he wanted to take the plunge, but was constantly getting the hook.
Dolph didn't know how he managed it, but it always seemed that during a Battle Royal, he ended up fighting for his life on the outside of the ring apron. He'd get tossed over, manage to catch himself, but then need to hang on for dear life while someone tried to bash his brains in. Fortunately, so far, he was able to pull himself back in, but he knew Del Rio was lurking around, and he had to watch out for his head in that case. Del Rio was always going after his head, bastard.
He tried to stay in the action without being the action. He didn't want to draw too much attention to himself, which would make him become a target for other people. He knew he was considered an underdog in this contest, but that didn't mean he couldn't make himself a forerunner. He just had to stay off the damn apron, which was somehow easier said than done. At one point, he saw Del Rio coming for him, but just managed to duck out of the way.
Then the impossible happened, and he managed to actually eliminate his bitterest rival. He wanted to celebrate, to yell at Del Rio that he was better, that he'd always been better, but there was no time for that. The numbers were dwindling and survival was his first priority. He could almost taste the IC title. Then suddenly, it was down to him and Sheamus. He and Sheamus had had their battles before, many times, but now it felt more important.
He had to focus, and it was like tunnel vision. All he could see was himself holding the title, and so he went after Sheamus. They fought back and forth, and for a while, Dolph thought he might actually lose, but then Sheamus was outside the apron and Dolph drop-kicked him to the floor. He couldn't believe it. He'd won! He was stunned at his own win, and he was just about to start celebrating when he felt himself thrown out of the ring.
He was so dazed for a few minutes, he didn't know what was going on, but when he looked up, he saw Miz celebrating with the title, and it never even occurred to him that Miz was still in the match. AJ, who was backstage watching, was trying to telepathically send him the message for a while now, hoping he would realize somehow that Miz was not eliminated and still in the match, and she felt as deflated as Dolph looked, sitting there on the side of the ring, trying to piece together what happened.
When he came backstage, it was with a heavy head and heart, and he trudged his way over. AJ was about to speak, but he held his hand up, "Not tonight, Jeannie."
It wasn't said angrily, just…sad. She whispered that it was okay, and she walked next to him, grabbing his hand halfway to the locker room. He intertwined their fingers together and she rubbed his hand with her thumb but didn't say anything. She wanted to say so many things, but she knew none of them would be adequate enough to make him feel better. Miz and him had been friendly towards each other for a while, so on top of losing, it had to feel something like a betrayal.
When they got back to their locker room, he showered quickly and they left before the show was even over. Something about Dolph was that he wore his emotions on his sleeve a lot of the time. He was so passionate about everything that he couldn't contain his emotions a lot of the time. They simply got ready for bed when they got back to their hotel and AJ cuddled up to him, resting her head in the crook of his neck.
"I know you said you didn't want to hear it, and I know there aren't any words that can make it better, but Miz tricked everyone. You should have won that, and we both know it. In fact, you did win it because he didn't do anything."
"Yeah," Dolph said noncommittally. She sighed and left it at that, knowing any more words would do no good at all.
The next morning, he was feeling slightly better, but was still pissed off about what happened the night before. He really should have won, and it wasn't fair, and he needed to prove that he was better than Miz. When he arrived at the show, the first thing he did was go to Stephanie's office. He needed to go to the top to ensure that he got what he wanted tonight. "Stephanie, I want a match."
"Already done," Stephanie told him, not even looking up from the piece of paper she was writing on.
"Against Miz?"
"Yup, it's not a title match, there's not exactly a rematch clause for you, but if you win, I can see someone, oh, I don't know who, but someone giving you a title match," Stephanie smiled to herself, and even though she couldn't see it, she could tell that Dolph was smiling too.
"Great, thank you."
Now he just had a match to get ready for.
Even though it wasn't a title match, Dolph put everything he could into that match because he knew that it was going to be for a potential title shot and because he wanted to send a message to The Miz that he was the rightful champion, and he could beat Miz in a one on one match. The Miz always thought he was better, still crowing about how he'd main-evented WrestleMania, but that was times past, and now he was nothing like his former self.
He might be the champion, but Dolph was going to prove who the true champion was tonight. AJ was glad to see this side of him back instead of the disappointed, defeated man from last night. She came up behind him and ran her hands up his bare back under his t-shirt. "You seem better."
"I've got the match, I'm going to win."
"Good, I'm glad to hear that," she told him, kissing the middle of his back. He smiled as he felt her lips on his back. "You'll show Miz how a real wrestler does it, not some reality star who thinks he's a wrestler."
"You're cute," he said, turning so he could face her. "Sorry about last night."
"Nothing to be sorry for, you were upset, and it happens," she hugged him. "I'm just glad to have my dirty fiancé back with me instead of Mr. Moper."
"It's just moper, babe," he told her, making an Arrested Development joke that made her laugh. That's when she knew that he was going to be okay. "Would it be bad to want birthday sex tonight even though my birthday isn't until Sunday?"
"Yes, but we can have regular sex," she told him.
"Somehow, it's not as much fun…I mean, it's totally fun, I'm totally looking forward to having sex with just you for the rest of my life."
"Oh, way to save yourself there, buddy," she told him, pushing him away, "get out of here, go win, go humiliate Miz, just outright make him your bitch."
"You are vicious, and I love it."
"I'm channeling Harley Quinn," she shrugged, "but with my own AJ spin to it."
He went out there for his match, and he proved who was better, through and through. It was one thing to win when there were distractions or things like (like his wins again Fandango), but to just win clean, to go out there, and to show Miz and the world that he was the better wrestler, it felt good. Plus, knowing that he was probably going to get a title shot out of it made it that much sweeter.
"Who's better now, asshole?" Dolph muttered to Miz as he pulled away from the pin.
He watched as Miz ran for his title, making Justin say that he was still the IC champion, but it was still Dolph's win and everyone knew it. He walked backstage feeling accomplished for once, and with the Miz holding the title, he knew that it could become his soon. He needed it to become his soon. He wanted it to become his soon.
If only the rest of the night had gone as well.
AJ was right. She'd been saying it she came back, but tonight was the night it came to fruition. It was no secret she had her reservations about Paige's motives, and tonight, they were justified. She thought that Paige might still try to play the charade, but as her hair was pulled and she was slammed down to the mat, she knew her time was up. Paige was no longer going to play the friendship game.
She didn't know how it was going to go down, but at the end of it, and she wasn't even sure how she got there, she was on the floor outside the announcer's table, and she was dazed and very confused. She lay there for a while as people started to stream around her, checking on her. She sat up and blinked a few times, hearing the crowd booing for something happening behind her. She was helped to her feet and they tried to carry her backstage, but she waved them off and started walking on her own.
When she was backstage, she was suddenly swooped into someone's arms. "I'm okay," she told him. "I promise."
"You were tossed over the table, if Paige was a man, I'd have hit her, as it was, I gave her the dirtiest look I could muster," Dolph told her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, awkwardly still holding onto her title, which was bumping into his back. "It was pretty dirty too. Not that kind though, her panties stayed on."
She laughed lightly. "I knew it though…I knew it."
"You did, I know you did, I'm so mad," Dolph said, and she could feel him shaking, but then he took a deep breath, "but I know you, and I know you can handle it, but are you okay? Are you hurt? How's your head?"
It didn't slip his mind that she'd suffered from a concussion within the last year, which left her susceptible. "I'm okay."
"We're still getting you checked out," he said, walking behind the trainer who was leading them back to the trainer's room. She knew there was no arguing with him so she just let him carry her there. "If this keeps up, we're both going to be in wheelchairs at our wedding."
"Better than strait jackets I suppose," she said as he placed her down on the examination table. The trainer checked her out while Dolph watched, his jaw clenched and his arms crossed over his chest like he was her bodyguard.
"She just tweaked her back a little bit flying over the announcer's table," the trainer told them. "She'll be sore tomorrow, but otherwise, she'll be fine. We don't see any signs of concussion so it looks like she was lucky."
"Define lucky," Dolph said.
"I'm fine, see," she told him, "just a sore back, that's all."
"You're going to take care of Paige, right?"
"She showed her hand."
"Which means…"
"I have to show mine."
